Thermometer casing with thermometer illuminating means



y 1951 s. M. CHOMES THERMOMETER CASING WITH THERMOMETER ILLUMINATING MEANS Flled June 21 1947 Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATE-J PATENT OFFICE iiiemoumitmsmc with memoir. Eran ILLUMINATING MEANS Sophia M. 'Cho'rii'es, Watertown, Mass. Application une 2 1, 1947', Serial at. 756,171

3 claims.

fIhis invention relates to devices for illuminating' the graduated portion of a thermometer, and more particularly a clinical thermometer, in such amanner as to facilitate the readin ,of its iiidication, and it has for one object to provide such a device which so localizes the light that it will not be likely to disturb the patient as might the use of an openflash light. V

further objec t is to provide such a device which is convenient to manipulate.

Still another object is to form the device as a casing for the thermometer in which the therm'ometer 'may be kept when not in use. By this means the chance of thedevice not being at hand when wanted is minimizedsince the casing and thefthermometer are normallytogether. ,'Still' another object 'as applied to one form of the d'evic'efis to provide a device which can be used withstandard clinical thermometers so that no .spec'ijal'thermometer construction is required, Furth'er objects and advantages will appear fr fa; description of certain embodiments o'f'thje invention shown in the accompanying drawings invvhi'ch Figure igis a' plan view of a device embodying theinvention and showing the thermometer encased therein, H r

Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view on line 2 2ofFigure'1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 2, but showing the thermometer partly removed from the casing.

, Figure i is an exploded perspective view ofthe' thermometer, a holder therefor, and a lighttransmitting element. p

,lifigures 5, and 6' are cross" sectional views on lines 5 5 andG-Bf, respectively, of "Figuref2.

,JFigure '7 is a"right'hand end elevation of the device.

I Figure 8 is a fragmentary View similar to portionof Figure 2, but showing, a? modification.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view on line "9-'9 of Figure 8.

Referring first to the form shown in Figures 1 to 7, there is provided an elongated cylindrical tubular casing I having a longitudinal slot 2 for a portion of its length. Within this tubular casing there is housed an element 3, shown detached in Figure 4, this element 3 being provided with a longitudinal groove 4 on one face, terminating near one end with a widened portion 5. This groove 4 provides a seat for a clinical thermometer 6 of standard construction, such thermometers being commonly provided with a widened head portion 1 which may engage withthe widened portion '5 of the groove 4. Diaiiietrically opposite to the groove 4 is a second groove lIiLfand in this second groove is positioned a light transmitting' element 1 I. It has a perpendicular end face. [2 against which light may be thrown from a suitable lamp as will later ap; pear Th-is element is out off on a diagonal plane to form an inclined face 13, which, when the ele 1' ment is in position in the groove It, lies against the bottom of this groove.

or replacing the thermometer, past a segmental cover it which is hinged to a segmental closure 21 whichmaybe secured to the outer end of the element 3 and bridge over the end of the ;casing l.- When the thermometer is in position its stem 1 22 upon which the temperature graduations are ad a t to the la marked is positioned beneath the slot'l'ofthe casing and opposite to the slot M .in the member-3. Beyond the inner end of the member 3 the c as ing 1 may be provided with a transverse partition 25 which contains a socket for the reception of aflamp bvlb 2 5. In order to provide for easy access to this lamp bulb for renewal, or the like, the icasing l may be formed of two sections hav threaded connection with each other at 21 Back of the partition 25 the'casing may house a dry ,cell battery 28 and a switch element-con sis't'ing v lo'f a button 29 having a shank 30 slid-.-

able through the .rear end member 3| of the; cesihgjmhich may beemployedto controlthe energiiationlof -the. 1am'p .25 from the battery;

2811 ,As spawn switch eleme ntlllf engages the.

rear end (if the'bat tery '28 which is slidable within the casing I and is normally held with its central terminal 32 out of contact with the central terminal 33 of the lamp socket as by means of a coil spring 34. By pressing inwardly on the element 39, the battery may be broughtinto electrical connection with the socket terminal 33, its outer Wall being electrically connected to the opposite terminal as by the spring 34, or the casing i, or both. The lamp 26 is so positioned that light therefrom impinges against the end l2 of the light conductive element II which extends alon and adjacent to the thermometer and is conducted thereby to escape from the face l3, passing through the slot l4 and illuminating the thermometer stem adjacent to the temperature graduations thereof. The casing may be used as a housing for the thermometer when it is not in use so that it is always handy when it is desired to use the thermometer, it being only necessary to open the door 20 to remove the thermometer. After the temperature has been taken it can be returned to the case, and the switch element 30 actuated to illuminate the thermometer so that the temperature reading may be easily ascertained. Since the illumination is directed to the stem of the thermometer and is not allowed to escape in other directions, this may be accomplished without annoyance to the patient, as it produces no bright fiash of light which may be visible to him.

In Figures 8 and 9 a modification is shown in which a special thermometer is employed having an inclined longitudinal face 40 back of the graduated face and which may be provided with a reflecting coating of any suitable description which will reflect light received thereagainst which reaches it through a window portion 4| at the inner end of the thermometer adjacent to its bulb. The thermometer is placed in the casing la, being housed within an element 3a having a longitudinal slot 4a. back of the window portion 2a of the casing. The thermometer is supported with its window portion 4| in position to receive light from the lamp 26a, which may be carried within the casing la, in the same manner as the lamp 26 illustrated in Figure 1 and be energized from a battery in the same manner. While as shown in Figure 8, the casing is not provided with a cover to complete the enclosure of the thermometer, of course, if desired, the casing could be extended and a cover provided in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 7.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various further changes and modifications might be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim: 1. An elongated casing having a longitudinal socket in which a thermometer may be housed, said socket comprising a longitudinal groove in one face of an element substantially filling one end portion of said casing, said element having another longitudinal groove substantially diametrically opposed to said socket groove, there being a slot in said element between central portions of said grooves, a light-transmitting rod seated in said other groove and having a diagonally cut face positioned opposite to said slot, and a fiat end face atthe imier end of said 818-,- ment, a lamp carried within said casin in position to direct light against said fiat end face to be conducted through said rod and emerge from said diagonally cut face to pass through said slot and illuminate the stem of a thermometer placed onally cut face positioned opposite to said slot, and a fiat end face at the inner end of said element, a lamp carried within said casing in position to direct light against said fiat end face to be conducted through said rod and emerge from said diagonally cut face to pass through said slot and illuminate the stem of a thermometer placed in said socket, a battery in said casing, and a switch controlling energy from said battery to said lamp and having an actuating element accessible for actuation externally of said casing.

3. An elongated casing having a longitudinal socket in which a thermometer may be housed, said socket comprising a longitudinal groove in one face of an element substantially filling one end portion of said casing, said element having another longitudinal groove substantially diametrically opposed to said socket groove, there being a slot in said element between central portions of said grooves, a light-transmitting rod seated in said other groove and having a diagonally cut face positioned opposite to said slot and a fiat end face at the inner end of said element, a lamp carried Within said casing in position to direct light against said fiat end face to be conducted through said rod and emerge from said diagonally cut face to pass through said slot and illuminate the stem of a thermometer placed in said socket, said element having a cover for the end of said socket openable to permit the passage of a thermometer into and out of said socket, and means for energizin said lamp.

SOPHIA M. CHOMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,005,829 Gurley Oct. 17, 1911 1,500,482 Barrett July 8, 1924 1,645,211 Zeal Oct. 11, 1927' 1,973,140 Carlson Sept. 11, 1934 2,288,093 Kaffenberger et al. June 30, 1942 2,289,374 Martin July 14, 1942 2,307,745 Lutz et al. Jan. 12, 1943 2,357,534 Minser Sept. 5, 1944 2,376,448 Neugass May 22, 1945 

